Inflatable air pad with easily removable diaphragm

ABSTRACT

An air pad with an easily removable diaphragm. The diaphragm has a bead around the periphery adapted to be disposed in a recess formed by an L-shaped flange and held in place by a snap ring.

United States Patent lnventor Richard R. Jung Battle Creek, Mich.857,400

Sept. 12, 1969 Apr. 27, 1971 Clark Equipment Company Appl. No. FiledPatented Assignee INFLATABLE AIR PAD WITH EASILY REMOVABLE DIAPHRAGM 2Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 180/ 124,

180/127 Int. Cl B60v 1/16 Field of Search 180/124,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,313,367 4/1967 Swedburg180/124X 3,339,654 9/1967 Bertin et a1. 180/127 3,414,075 12/ 1968Bertin 180/121 Primary ExaminerA. Harry Levy Attorneys-Kenneth C. Witt,John C. Wiessler, Robert H.

Johnson and Reginald J. Falkowski ABSTRACT: An air pad with an easilyremovable diaphragm. The diaphragm has a bead around the peripheryadapted to be disposed in a recess formed by an L-shaped flange and heldin place by a snap ring.

PATEN TED APR 2 7 197:

om u I N VEN'IOR RICHARD R. JUNG BY ATTORNEY INFLATABLE AIR PAD WITHEASILY REMOVABLE DIAPHRAGM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of artto which the invention pertains includes motor vehicles, and morespecifically special driving devices.

The diaphragm for an air pad is relatively thin sheet plastic, and sinceit is used on floors is subject to being torn or punctured occasionally.When this occurs, it is necessary to remove the diaphragm from the airpad in order to patch it because the patch must be applied to the insideof the diaphragm. Patching is done in this manner in order to keep theoutside of the diaphragm smooth so that an air film can be maintainedbetween the air pad and the floor or other supporting surface.Obviously, it is very desirable that the diaphragm be quickly and easilyremovable from and replaceable on the air pad for patching or completereplacement of the diaphragm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In carrying out my invention in a preferredembodiment, I provide a base to which a flange is connected. The flangeis generally L-shaped in cross section and defines with the base arecess. A diaphragm with a bead around the periphery thereof has thebead disposed in the recess and held in place by a snapring. Thediaphragm also is attached to the base at approximately the centers ofboth.

The objects, features and advantages of my invention will become moreapparent to persons skilled in the art when the detailed description istaken in conjunction with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a cross section of an annularair pad embodying my invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing to advantage theconnection of the diaphragm to the base, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the notch in the flange.

- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, thereference numeral denotes 1 defines with base 12 an annular recess 18which extends completely around the periphery of base 12.

' Air pad 10 also includes a flexible plastic sheet or diaphragm 20 witha bead 22 at the periphery thereof which is formed by turning over andsealing the periphery of diaphragm 20 to enclose a compressible ring 24.Bead 22 is adapted to be disposed in recess 18 in order to attachdiaphragm 20 to base 12 and is held in place by means of a resilientsnapring 26 which tends to spring outwardly, and thus forces bead 22against flange 14 to fonn an airtight seal therewith.

A notch 28 is provided in the inwardly extending portion 16 of flange 14to provide for easy removal of snapring 26 by simply inserting the endof a screwdriver or similar tool and prying one end of snapring 26 outof recess 18.

Diaphragm 20 is arranged to be attached'at the center thereof to thecenter of base I2 by means of a disc 30 which clamps diaphragm 20between it and base I2 and which is fastened in position by means of amachine screw 32 or other similar fastener. Consequently, a generallyannular chamber 34 is defined by base 12 and diaphragm 20 due to theconnec tion of diaphragm 20 to base 12 at the peripheries and centers ofboth.

Air pad 10 is arranged to have pressurized air or other suitable fluidsupplied thereto through a port 36 which communicates with chamber 34 sothat diaphragm 20 is inflated to substantially the configuration shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. Pressurized air can escape from chamber 34 through aplurality of openings 38 in diaphragm 20 to a plenum chamber 40 definedby the underside of diaphragm 20 and the floor or other supportingsurface 42 over which air pad 10 is operating. In a properly functioningair pad the air from plenum chamber 40 is continually escaping out fromthe underside of air pad 10, and so an air film 44 of approximately0.015 of an inch in thickness is maintained in the area indicated byreference numeral 44 in FIG. 2.

In the event of a puncture or rip of diaphragm 20 and the patchingthereof, it is necessary to remove, at least partially, diaphragm 20from base 12 so that any patch may be applied to the inside of diaphragm20, whereby a smooth surface on the underside of diaphragm 20 may bemaintained. It will be seen that partial removal of diaphragm 20 frombase I2 is easily accomplished by simply removing snapring 26 and thenpulling bead 22 out of recess 18. If complete removal of diaphragm 20from base 12 is required for replacement or major repair of diaphragm20, it is only necessary to additionally remove machine screw 32 whichholds disc 30 in place. Attachment of diaphragm-20 to base 12 isaccomplished simply by following the reversal of the above-mentionedprocedure.

At this point it will be seen that there is provided an air padconstruction in which the diaphragm is easily and quickly removable orreplaceable.

Although only a single embodiment of my invention has been shown, itwill be understood that the detailed description is for purposes ofillustration only, and that various modifications and changes can bemade to my invention without departing from the spirit and scope of it.Therefore, the limits of my invention should be determined from thefollowing appended claims.

lclaim:

I. An inflatable air pad comprising a base, a flange connected to thesaid base, the said flange being generally L- shaped in cross section, arecess defined by the said base and flange, a flexible diaphragm, thesaid diaphragm including a bead which is adapted to be disposed in thesaid recess so as to fonn a chamber between the said base and diaphragm,a snapring adapted to be disposed in the said recess and hold the saidbead in the said recess and means for connecting the said diaphragm tothe said base at substantially the centers of both the said diaphragmand base.

2. An air pad as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said flange includesan inwardly extending portion and a notch in the said inwardly extendingportion to facilitate removal of the said snapring.

1. An inflatable air pad comprising a base, a flange connected to thesaid base, the said flange being generally L-shaped in cross section, arecess defined by the said base and flange, a flexible diaphragm, thesaid diaphragm including a bead which is adapted to be disposed in thesaid recess so as to form a chamber between the said base and diaphragm,a snapring adapted to be disposed in the said recess and hold the saidbead in the said recess and means for connecting the said diaphragm tothe said base at substantially the centers of both the said diaphragmand base.
 2. An air pad as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said flangeincludes an inwardly extending portion and a notch in the said inwardlyextending portion to facilitate removal of the said snapring.